Bitcoin Can Be Hacked in 9 Minutes, Google Research Says
Google Quantum AI's white paper reveals that a 500,000-qubit computer could crack Bitcoin’s ECDSA encryption in just nine minutes.
Quick Take
Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed.
Google researchers reduced the physical qubit requirement for a "Q-Day" attack by 20x.
The nine-minute window allows for a 41% success rate in hijacking transactions before block confirmation.
Approximately 2.3 million BTC in legacy addresses are at high risk due to exposed public keys.
Google moved its "Cryptographically Relevant" deadline to 2029, urging immediate post-quantum migration.
A new study from Google Quantum AI has raised fresh concerns about the future security of Bitcoin. The report suggests that a powerful quantum computer could break Bitcoin’s encryption much faster than experts once believed.
⚠️GOOGLE SAYS A QUANTUM ATTACK ON BITCOIN TAKES JUST 9 MINS WITH A 41% SUCCESS RATE
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) March 31, 2026
Google's quantum team now says cracking Bitcoin may require less than 500K qubits, far below the “millions” once assumed.
Research suggests an attack could take 9mins, faster than a typical… pic.twitter.com/GrbL8FQDzC
Researchers now estimate that such an attack could take just nine minutes. That is faster than Bitcoin’s average block time of ten minutes. In this scenario, the attack could succeed about 41% of the time. While this does not pose an immediate danger today. It changes how the industry views long-term risks.
Why This New Estimate Matters?
Bitcoin relies on a type of encryption called ECDSA. This system protects wallets and transactions. Until now, experts believed breaking it would require millions of quantum bits. This is also known as qubits. But the new research suggests it may take fewer than 500,000 qubits.
This is a big drop from earlier estimates. With this, the timeline for real quantum threats may be closer than expected. Experts now point to around 2029 as a key deadline. In short, what once felt far away now feels much closer.
How a Quantum Attack Could Work?
The study explains how attackers could use quantum computers to break private keys. Once they have the private key, they can access and move funds. This attack mainly targets wallets with exposed public keys. These are often older Bitcoin addresses or wallets that have already made transactions.
If a quantum computer becomes strong enough, it could run this attack quickly. In theory, it could even act before a new block confirms a transaction. That is why the nine minute estimate is important. It shows how timing could give attackers an edge.
Industry Faces a 2029 Deadline
The report urges the crypto industry to prepare early. It recommends moving toward post-quantum cryptography. This new security method is made to resist quantum attacks. Developers, researchers and companies will need time to test and apply these upgrades. That is why experts highlight 2029 as a key target.
Some analysts say this new research improves attack efficiency by up to 20 times. This further supports the need for faster action. Even so, the transition will not be simple. Bitcoin’s network is large and decentralized. Any major upgrade requires strong community agreement.
No Immediate Threat, But a Clear Warning
For now, Bitcoin remains safe. Quantum computers are not yet powerful enough to carry out these attacks in real life. But the warning is clear. The technology is improving fast. What seems impossible today may become possible in the future. This research does not mean Bitcoin is broken, rather it shows that the system must evolve. In the long run, preparing early could make all the difference.
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